CAMPBELLVILLE, September 8 – While his harness racing owners are preparing for the World Cup of Hockey, Nahar has been preparing for the Maple Leaf Trot and getting used to his new surroundings.
The 11-year-old Swedish trotting star arrived in Canada last week and has been stabled at Blair Burgess' farm near Mohawk Racetrack.
Nahar, who is owned by Daniel and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks, was accompanied to Canada by his trainer Robert Bergh's daughter, Isabella.
Earlier this week, Nahar made a visit to First Line Training Centre to put in some work ahead of Saturday's Maple Leaf Trot eliminations. The 2013 Elitlopp winner last raced on August 27th before traveling to Canada.
Nahar is a 39-time winner with over $1.8 million in career earnings. He will be driven by Ake Svanstedt in Saturday's Maple Leaf Trot elimination.
The Sedin brothers will be playing in a World Cup of Hockey Pre-Tournament game on Saturday in Gothenburg, but will be traveling to Toronto next week for the start of the tournament.
If Nahar qualifies for the Maple Leaf Trot Final, the brothers are expected to be in attendance at Mohawk on September 17th to watch their star trotter compete.
The Maple Leaf Trot eliminations are carded as Races 6 and 9 on Saturday's 13-race program. Nahar will compete in the second elimination.
Race 6: Maple Leaf Trot – Elimination #1 – Purse: $40,000
1. Lookslikeachpndale – Muscle Hill – Sylvain Filion – Luc Blais
2. Shake It Cerry – Donato Hanover – David Miller – Jimmy Takter
3. Whiskey Tax – Revenue S – Randy Waples – Tom Durand
4. Flanagan Memory – Kadabra – Chris Christoforou – Rene Dion
5. Resolve – Muscle Hill – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt
6. Musical Rhythm – Cantab Hall – Mario Baillargeon – Ben Baillargeon
Race 9: Maple Leaf Trot – Elimination #2 – Purse: $40,000
1. Il Sogno Dream – Cantab Hall – Scott Zeron – Chris Beaver
2. JL Cruze – Crazed – John Campbell – Eric Ell
3. Etruscan Hanover – Donato Hanover – Mario Baillargeon – Ben Baillargeon
4. Windsun Revenge – Kadabra – Rick Zeron – Jeff Durham
5. Hannelore Hanover – Swan For All – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
6. Nahar – Love You – Ake Svanstedt – Robert Bergh
Mark McKelvie